Abstract
BackgroundLymphatic filariasis (LF) occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The filarial worms affect the lymphatic system which leads to abnormal enlargement of body parts, chronic pain, disability, and social discrimination. In 1999, a commitment was made to eliminate LF from the Pacific Region by 2010. The Pacific Program to Eliminate LF began, with Vanuatu being one of the 16 endemic countries included in this program.MethodsIn 1997/1998 a LF prevalence baseline survey was conducted to determine the need for mass drug administration (MDA) in Vanuatu. In 1999, the Vanuatu Lymphatic Filariasis Control Program was established, and nationwide MDA was implemented from 2000 to 2004. LF prevalence was collected during the MDA through sentinel site and spot check surveys, and after 5 years of MDA. MDA implementation methods included health worker training, social mobilization, and culturally appropriate health promotion strategies.ResultsLF prevalence at baseline was 4.79%; after MDA this declined to 0.16% in 2005/2006. Average MDA coverage ranged from 75.5–81.5% across 5 years. All three evaluation units surveyed in 2005/2006 were below the 1% threshold required to stop MDA.ConclusionsThe LF Control Program between 1997 and 2006 was successful in reducing LF prevalence to <1%. High MDA coverage was a critical component of this success. This period of the Vanuatu LF Control Program played an important role in helping to eliminate LF in Vanuatu.
Highlights
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes
In 1999, with Pacific Program to Eliminate LF (PacELF) support, the Vanuatu National LF Control Program was established within the Malaria and Methods The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact of Vanuatu’s LF Control Program on filariasis in Vanuatu from 1997 to 2006
This paper showed that mass drug administration (MDA) successfully suppressed LF antigen prevalence in Vanuatu to below 1% in 2006
Summary
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes. The filarial worms affect the lymphatic system which leads to abnormal enlargement of body parts, chronic pain, disability, and social discrimination. In 1999, a commitment was made to eliminate LF from the Pacific Region by 2010. The Pacific Program to Eliminate LF began, with Vanuatu being one of the 16 endemic countries included in this program. The adult filarial worms reside in, and affect, the lymphatic system and can result in abnormal enlargement of body parts, chronic pain, disability, and social stigmatization [1]. In 2000, 16 of the 22 Pacific countries or territories were classified as endemic and in need of interventions to eliminate LF (Fig. 1) [5]
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